Brian Scott Freeman

West Point, 1999

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Bill Torrey on May 15, 2007:

The following was written by Ty Cobb, Jr (USMA '62) and was published in the Salisbury (NC) Post. What Do Heroes Do? I lost a great young friend to a terrorist?s grenade in Karbala, Iraq two weeks ago. With tears welling in my eyes, I packed my bag and headed for Southern California to pay my small tribute to him during services held in his home town. Two services were conducted, the first in a huge semi-permanent tent at a picturesque winery. The next day military services were conducted at Fort Rosencrans National Cemetery, an awe-inspiring place overlooking the Pacific Ocean where a small detachment of soldiers, including a general, executed a solemnly professional tribute to Captain Brian Freeman. For me, the most poignant moment in the whole two days of ceremonies and receptions was a short sentence uttered by one of Brian?s civilian co-workers. You see, Brian left the Army upon serving his mandatory five years after graduating from West Point in 1999. He was called back to active duty in the early spring of 2006; though commissioned as an Armor (tank) officer, Brian was activated as a Civil Affairs Officer. As such, he was responsible for seeing to the construction of civic projects for Karbala province?s infrastructure that would lead to a better life for its citizens. While accomplishing much for the Iraqi people, he took it upon himself to help a young Iraqi boy, Ali, who was born with a hole in his heart. Ali will have his operation in NYC in a couple of weeks thanks to the fund raising Brian accomplished before his tragic death. His civilian co-worker, Troy Juve, was one of many friends who stood at the first day?s service to tell stories about Brian. Troy did that, but went on to talk about his son and e-mails from Brian in Iraq. Brian e-mailed a picture of himself helping Iraqi school kids. Troy?s 6-year-old son, Jacob, saw the picture and wanted more, so John requested more from Brian. As more pictures came in, Jacob immediately ?connected? with Brian?s image, noting his helmet, armored vest, battle uniform, night vision goggles, and weapon. He was fascinated. Further pictures enhanced the fascination, and he told his dad that Brian looked like a super hero and James Bond. Then came the fateful e-mail that Brian had been killed. Troy sat teary eyed at his home computer when his son walked in and asked, ?Daddy, what?s wrong?? Troy, doing his best to compose himself, replied, ?My friend Brian died in Iraq yesterday trying to protect us.? Jacob, as only a child could, simply said, ?That?s what heroes do, Dad.?

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